Ford era begins in Toronto

[guyser]

The last one is the poll in question...not some nebulous poll done weeks ago....

http://beta.images.theglobeandmail.com/archive/01218/Forum_Research_pol_1218626a.pdf

Interesting poll. Not entirely surprising to me but the honeymoon aint over.

Funny one though, licensing of bicyclists so that traffic laws can be enforced? Uh...they can be enforced now just fine, 'cept the cops are too lazy to do so.

[M.Dancer]

Funny one though, licensing of bicyclists so that traffic laws can be enforced? Uh...they can be enforced now just fine, 'cept the cops are too lazy to do so.

Indeed....

[nicky10013]

The last one is the poll in question...not some nebulous poll done weeks ago....

http://beta.images.theglobeandmail.com/archive/01218/Forum_Research_pol_1218626a.pdf

I was talking about the provincial polls. McGuinty is ahead by double digits. Sure Ford still has a lot of support but turning out "Ford nation" to unseat 416 Liberals will most likely be little more than a pipe dream.

[Mr.Canada]

I was talking about the provincial polls. McGuinty is ahead by double digits. Sure Ford still has a lot of support but turning out "Ford nation" to unseat 416 Liberals will most likely be little more than a pipe dream.

The Tories came very close to winning at least 2 seats in the last election and the environment has soured even further on the Liberals. Last election it was only the Federal Liberals but now the Prov. Liberals are equally loathed now. It's safe to say that we'll see at least 2-3 seats in the 416 go blue.

[Black Dog]

Once Mayor Ford cleans house and privatizes everything probably not, no. I think he should sell off almost everything to private companies.

Like? Roads? Oh no, wait, that'd mean tolls and the "war on cars". Social housing? Yeah, because poor people are a really sought-after market for developers. Snow removal? Sewers? Police? Fire? Ambulance?

After that we can lower our taxes by a massive amount and start living decent lives instead of government taking half of our money.

You'll need it because it'll be eaten up by the private sector instead.

Edited March 8, 2011 by Black Dog

[Black Dog]

Interesting poll. Not entirely surprising to me but the honeymoon aint over.

Funny one though, licensing of bicyclists so that traffic laws can be enforced? Uh...they can be enforced now just fine, 'cept the cops are too lazy to do so.

Another look at the wonky poll.

Also interesting:

Grant points out that while a 60% approval rating isn’t bad by any means, David Miller’s approval rating was 82% six months into his first term. Quick googling reveals that Miller’s approval ratings stayed very high until the garbage strike in 2009. In 2005, well into his first term, Miller sat at 69%.

[Oleg Bach]

I think it would be good to give they guy more then three months to do something. Miller had 10 years to do the damage he did so you cannot expect to reverse the damage in a few weeks.

Like the fact that it is a two brother team...and I just hope that Ford backs off on the fine food or he is not going to make it...Miller acted like a socialist but did the bidding of big buisness....where as Ford is a capitalist ----and a conservative that actually attempts to CONSERVE....OKAY...I will give the guy a chance ....but if he goes weird and starts to pilage instead of conserve - gonna have to fire him...or nature will take care of it I mean - He has already had one medical set back....better trim up --- I am sure he will go into fighting mode and weight shortly....I hope.

[guyser]

Also interesting:

Miller was at 82% ?? What the....?

[Mr.Canada]

Like? Roads? Oh no, wait, that'd mean tolls and the "war on cars". Social housing? Yeah, because poor people are a really sought-after market for developers. Snow removal? Sewers? Police? Fire? Ambulance?

No, not like roads. Sewers? No Police? No Fire? No Ambulance? We already have private ambulances.

Snow removal? Yes along with garbage.

I would start by opening the bidding on all garbage recycling, green bin collection. After that I would look at privatizing park/lawn maintenance and snow removal.

I don't think that anythings wrong with looking at privatizing social housing either. No one even knows what it would look like but they're against it.

Also privatization doesn't mean that the private companies can do whatever they'd like either, they would have rules to follow. It's much easier to hold a private company accountable then it is to hold a public board accountable as we're learning. If a private company can do a better job managing the properties then I don't see the harm.

Private companies are run much more efficiently then government as well and if they can get the repairs done and upgrades made I think the TCHC residents would have a much favorable outlook on it.

You see it's not in the best interests of OCAP to have the public housing run well and be well maintained. If all the units were clean and well maintained they would have less to complain about. OCAP gets by on the amount of stuff they have to complain about so I doubt that OCAP really wants social housing to be well maintained. They say they do but in reality they cannot afford to have it run well.

[Black Dog]

Also privatization doesn't mean that the private companies can do whatever they'd like either, they would have rules to follow. It's much easier to hold a private company accountable then it is to hold a public board accountable as we're learning. If a private company can do a better job managing the properties then I don't see the harm.

TCHC is being held accountable. the checks and balances in the system work. It's unlikely a private entity would receive that degree of oversight.

Private companies are run much more efficiently then government as well and if they can get the repairs done and upgrades made I think the TCHC residents would have a much favorable outlook on it.

I don't believe private companies are more efficient than the government. They are certainly less accountable.

You see it's not in the best interests of OCAP to have the public housing run well and be well maintained. If all the units were clean and well maintained they would have less to complain about. OCAP gets by on the amount of stuff they have to complain about so I doubt that OCAP really wants social housing to be well maintained. They say they do but in reality they cannot afford to have it run well.

What does OCAP have to do with anything?

[Mr.Canada]

TCHC is being held accountable. the checks and balances in the system work. It's unlikely a private entity would receive that degree of oversight.

It's very hard because the left wing councilors are voting to keep the current board. Miller had no interest in doing anything. It happened on his watch! If it wasn't for Rob Ford we wouldn't even know about it yet.

I don't believe private companies are more efficient than the government. They are certainly less accountable.

If someone lost $50 million on the stock market they'd be fired. If they even used company capital to play the stock market they'd be fired.

What does OCAP have to do with anything?

Everything. They're always complaining about not enough money for the poor. This TCHC board just wasted $50 million that was earmarked for the poor yet they say nothing. They're a bunch of hypocrites and with the only real agenda to rail against anyone right of centre.

[Black Dog]

It's very hard because the left wing councilors are voting to keep the current board.

So the only way to be accountable is by firing everyone involved? Orf viv their 'eads!

Miller had no interest in doing anything. It happened on his watch! If it wasn't for Rob Ford we wouldn't even know about it yet

Miller instituted the audit in the first place!

If someone lost $50 million on the stock market they'd be fired. If they even used company capital to play the stock market they'd be fired.

Everything. They're always complaining about not enough money for the poor. This TCHC board just wasted $50 million that was earmarked for the poor yet they say nothing. They're a bunch of hypocrites and with the only real agenda to rail against anyone right of centre.

OCAP is a fringe group. Dunno why you think they are representative of anyone.

[Shwa]

It's very hard because the left wing councilors are voting to keep the current board. Miller had no interest in doing anything. It happened on his watch! If it wasn't for Rob Ford we wouldn't even know about it yet.

If someone lost $50 million on the stock market they'd be fired. If they even used company capital to play the stock market they'd be fired.

Everything. They're always complaining about not enough money for the poor. This TCHC board just wasted $50 million that was earmarked for the poor yet they say nothing. They're a bunch of hypocrites and with the only real agenda to rail against anyone right of centre.

They "wasted $50 million??" Cite your source please.

[Mr.Canada]

They "wasted $50 million??" Cite your source please.

I don't know why I bother to play these games with you.

You didn't hear about the $75 million that used to gamble on the stock market?

meaning former Mayor David Miller and the Gang — handed over the $75-million from the sale of Toronto Hydro Telecom carte blanche to the beleaguered Toronto Community Housing Corp.

the TCHC took the money, invested it in the stock market and lost $41.4-million of it Source

Edited March 9, 2011 by Mr.Canada

[Shwa]

I don't know why I bother to play these games with you.

You didn't hear about the $75 million that used to gamble on the stock market?

Did you? Because your Toronto Sun citation doesn't say that at all. So you are either ignorant of the facts or are bald-face lying. Read the article carefully son.

[Mr.Canada]

your Toronto Sun citation doesn't say that at all.

It says it right in the quote I gave.

[Shwa]

It says it right in the quote I gave.

Does it? Well are you saying the the Toronto Sun article says that "You didn't hear about the $75 million that used to gamble on the stock market?"

Because, no, the Toronto Sun article doesn't say that at all. Read a little more carefully son, you'll eventually be able to figure it out.

[Mr.Canada]

Does it? Well are you saying the the Toronto Sun article says that "You didn't hear about the $75 million that used to gamble on the stock market?"

meaning former Mayor David Miller and the Gang — handed over the $75-million from the sale of Toronto Hydro Telecom carte blanche to the beleaguered Toronto Community Housing Corp.

the TCHC took the money, invested it in the stock market and lost $41.4-million of it Source

There it is again. Says so right there. If that quote says something else let me know.

Edited March 9, 2011 by Mr.Canada

[Shwa]

There it is again. Says so right there. If that quote says something else let me know.

Nope. All it says is that you did some creative editing to make it look like it says what you want it to. Nothing more.

Here, let me try, this could be fun.

It wasn’t a problem

Because the TCHC took the money, invested it in the stock market

“We did our good deed ... and now let’s move on to something else.”

Source

According to the Sun article you cited, it wasn't any problem, they invested the money in the stock market and moved on to something else. Seems all on the up and up to me.

[Mr.Canada]

Nope. All it says is that you did some creative editing to make it look like it says what you want it to. Nothing more.

Here, let me try, this could be fun.

According to the Sun article you cited, it wasn't any problem, they invested the money in the stock market and moved on to something else. Seems all on the up and up to me.

The decision itself to play the stock market at all is the problem. They should've parked the money in some government bonds that will have a guaranteed return. The stock market does not. So the CEO needs to go as well. Fish stinks from the head down. Surprise Surprise Paula Fletcher sits on the TCHC board...lol.

Edited March 9, 2011 by Mr.Canada

[Shwa]

The decision itself to play the stock market at all is the problem. They should've parked the money in some government bonds that will have a guaranteed return. The stock market does not. So the CEO needs to go as well. Fish stinks from the head down. Surprise Surprise Paula Fletcher sits on the TCHC board...lol.

So what are you admitting is that you DIDN'T read the Sun article carefully enough? Or you were deliberately trying to mis-lead with your edits?

Secondly, all corporations play the stock market, but whomever did - or advised them - should be carefully looked at. Now, was it someone on the actual TCHC board or was it some investment firm giving them advice?

Yeah, they should have parked some in bonds.

[Mr.Canada]

So what are you admitting is that you DIDN'T read the Sun article carefully enough? Or you were deliberately trying to mis-lead with your edits?

Secondly, all corporations play the stock market, but whomever did - or advised them - should be carefully looked at. Now, was it someone on the actual TCHC board or was it some investment firm giving them advice?

Yeah, they should have parked some in bonds.

Shwa, surely we can agree that the people on the board were not sufficiently qualified to invest in the market with tens of millions dollars.

[Shwa]

Shwa, surely we can agree that the people on the board were not sufficiently qualified to invest in the market with tens of millions dollars.

Did they invest it on their own? Or does a multimillion dollar public corporation have some sort of, I dunno, "financial advice" group? Or a broker?

[Black Dog]

Well this should go over well with the more socially conservative citizens of Ford Nation: Mammoliti renews push for Toronto Island brothels

If Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti gets his way, ferries full of sex-seekers will steam across the harbour to a Toronto Islands red light district.

Mammoliti has for years said Toronto should regulate and tax brothels, and made the establishment of a distinct prostitution zone a central plank in his aborted run for mayor last year.

Now part of Mayor Rob Ford’s inner circle, Mammoliti (Ward 7, York West) is renewing the push, along with the leafy islands as his top choice for location.

...

“To put it in an area away from the city might make some sense, and the islands fit the bill,” he said. “The industry exists and we’re not making a penny from it . . . I haven’t raised it with the mayor and his people yet, but I will.”

[Black Dog]

Ford family business raising conflict questions

In 2010, the City of Toronto paid the Ford family’s company more than $56,000 to print stickers, tags and decals for various departments.

The city was doing business with Deco Labels and Tags before Rob Ford was elected to council 10 years ago, but now that he is mayor and his brother Doug is a councillor, the relationship has raised conflict of interest concerns among Ford’s opponents.

I'm less concerned by the idea that Ford's company is getting city business (though obviously the links should be explored) than I am by the fact that Ford is spending an inordinate amount of time on the family business when he should be doing his real job.

Councillor Doug Ford remains the company’s president. Exactly what role the mayor holds is unclear. For years Ford served as Deco’s chief financial officer. Today, his name does not appear on Deco’s federal business profile, although copies of Ford’s itinerary obtained by the Star through a freedom of information request show the mayor is still involved with the company.

On Jan. 20, Ford was scheduled to attend a “family business” meeting from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The following Monday, his itinerary said “Deco all day” from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., though the day also lists budget committee and property standards meetings.

Then again, given what I've seen of Ford so far, perhaps we'd be better off if he spent more time playing with sticker books and less time pretending to run a major city.